Longitudinal top spring receptacle

ABSTRACT

An electrical tab receptacle has a channel-shaped receptacle portion having spring arms extending from one end of the base of the channel and overlying the base, the arms being locked against outward movement by engagement with ears formed on the free edge of the channel sides.

tinned tates Fatet 1 1 1111 3,7299% Smith 1 1 Apr. 24, 973

[ LONGETUDHNAL TOP SPRING [56] References Cited REQEPTACLE UNITED STATES PATENTS [75] Inventor: Phili Sydney Smith, Bidcterd, 1211- 2,789,278 4/1957 Soreng ..339/276T l nd 998,390 7/l9l 1 Pierce 339/256 UX I 3,120,990 2/1964 Kinkaid ..339/259 Asslgneel AMP lnwriwrated,Hllrrlsburg, 2,765,453 10/1956 MacFnrlane.... .....339/258R 3,659,243 4/1972 Gluntz. ..339/l92 R [22] Flled' Sept 1971 1,531,8[6 5/1925 Russell ..339/258 5 [21 Appli N0.: 177,027

Primary E tan1inerMarvin A. Champion Assistant E,\'aminerRobert A. Hafer [3 Foreign Application Priority Data Armrney-William .l. Keating, Gerald K. Kim, J. R.

0a, 3, 1970 Great Britain ..47,105 70 Flmaga" and Obsome [57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl. ..339/223 R, 339/258 S 511 1m. (:1. H0111 15/12 An electrical tab receptacle has a Channel-Shaped [58] Field of Search 339/223, 256 R 256 SP, receptacle portion having spring arms extending from 339/758 R 258 S 259 R 259 F 265 F one end of the base of the channel and overlying the u base, the arms being locked against outward movement by engagement with ears formed on the free edge of the channel sides.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures LONGITUDINAL TOP SPRING RECEPTACLE This invention relates to electrical connector tab receptacles.

Tab receptacles of many forms are known and a particularly successful form has a receptacle of channel form in which the sides are rolled over to provide springs for clamping a tab between edges of the springs and the base. The performance of such tab receptacles is satisfactory in relation to contemporary requirements but owing to the metal content and to metal costs there is considerable demand for a product of comparable performance but reduced cost. Difficulty has been presented in maintaining the performance when the metal content has been reduced.

An electrical connector tab receptacle according to the present invention comprises a receptacle portion in the form of a channel having a base and two sides, a pair of arm folded up from an end of the channel and extending over the base to define together with the base and the sides of the channel a socket for a tab, the sides of the channel having free edges turned in over those sides of the arms distal from the base to resist movement of the arms away from the base by engagement with the sides of the inturned free edges with the arms.

In this arrangement the sides of the channel may be shorter than is required for rolled springs of the prior receptacles and thus the developed width of the receptacle is reduced. In addition, the edges of the channel sides do not contact the tab, as in prior receptacles so that the quality of the edges is less critical. As a result receptacles according to the invention can be formed from metal strips of reduced width.

Advantageously, the receptacle is formed with a wire connecting section at the end of the channel formed with the arms and suitably the arms are formed by metal cut from the strip around the wire connecting section. This reduces the metal scrap by making use of metal normally wasted.

The arms suitable extend throughout the length of the channel and at their free ends are formed with ears projecting inwardly towards a middle of the base width, and turned up at leading inner portions away from the base to facilitate entry of a tab between the arms and the base.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying partly diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa tab receptacle;

FIG. 2 is a front end view of the receptacle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the receptacle;

FIG. 4 is a plan view ofthe receptacle; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a blank cut from strip metal and partially formed in a stamping die, from which the terminal of FIGS. I to 4 is formed.

The tab receptacle of FIGS. l to 4 comprises a receptacle portion 1 and a wire-connecting portion 2 extending from a rear end of the receptacle portion l. The wire-connecting portion 2 comprises a wire ferrule 3 and an insulation support ferrule 4 of U-section for crimping respectively about the wire core and the insulation ofa wire lead.

The receptacle portion 2 is of channel form having a base 5 and sides 6, the middle portion 7 of the base being elevated through a major portion of the width and length of the receptacle to define a platform 7 for engaging a tab. At each side of the platform is a trough 8, and the platform is laterally slotted at 9. A dimple 10 is centrally disposed behind the leading slot for engaging a latching aperture in a tab in known manner and the platform is suitably bowed widthwise in upwardly convex manner for appropriate spring engagement with the tab. I

Two arms ll extend forwardly over the base 5 from the rear of the receptacle portion 1, one arm on each side of the wire connecting ferrule 3. Sides ofa channel shaped transition section 12, between the ferrule 3 and the arms 11, extend into root portions of the arms II which are turned up from the base 5 and then forwardly to extend in generally parallel spaced relation above the base adjacent each side. Free ends of the arms 11 are formed with ears 13 extending inwards over a middle of the base at a front of the receptacle. The ears 13 are turned up, away from the base at their leading ends to facilitate tab entry, and as seen in FIG. 2 the ears slope inwardly and downwardly towards a middle of the base at a shallow angle.

The sides 6 have projecting upper edge ear portions 14 disposed rearwardly of the forward end, and rearwardly of the ears 14 the sides 6 slope down to the base forwardly of the rear ends of the arms 11. Outer sides of the arms 11 have forward cut away portions so that the outer sides are clear of the sides 6, and the ears 14 are bent inwards to overlie the arms.

As seen in FIG. 5, the arms 11 have an inner side profile 15 determined from the blank profile of the transition 12, wire ferrule 3 and insulation support ferrule 4. In manufacture from the partially formed blank of FIG. 5, the arms 11 are folded forwards over the receptacle base 5 as the transition and ferrule portions are formed into usection, and the sides 6 are folded up as the ears 14 are turned in progressively.

On insertion of a tab into the receptacle the spring arms 11 are twisted longitudinally against the constraint of the ears 14 to lie generally flat against the tab. The downward inclination of the arms 11 seen in FIG. 2 provides for this torsional effect, and since the inner marginal edges of the arms as seen in FIG. 4 diverge, the interference with the tab decreases towards the rear of the receptacle. As a result the torsional action occurs through the length of the arms 11 and there is reduced reliance on cantilever action from the roots of the arms 11. In addition there will be some flexure of the ears 14 to assist the spring action.

I claim:

1. An electrical terminal tab receptacle comprising a receptacle portion in the form of a channel having a base and two sides, a pair of arms folded up from an end of the channel and extending over the base to define together with the base and the sides of the channel a socket for a tab, the sides of the channel having free edges turned in over those sides of the arms distal from the base to resist movement of the arms away from the base by engagement of the inturned free edges with the arms, and a wire-connecting portion extending from the receptacle portion at the end from which the arms are folded up; the arms being formed from excess metal removed from around the wire-connecting portion.

2. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which the shape of the inner marginal edges of the arms is complementary to the blank shape of the wire-connecting portion.

3. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which the arms extend throughout the length of the channel away from the base at the forward edges to facilitate entry ofa tab between the arms and the base.

4. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 3, in which the arms, along their length, are inclined towards each sides and are formed at their free ends with ears pro- 5 other and towards the channel basejecting generally towards each other and turned up 

1. An electrical terminal tab receptacle comprising a receptacle portion in the form of a channel having a base and two sides, a pair of arms folded up from an end of the channel and extending over the base to define together with the base and the sides of the channel a socket for a tab, the sides of the channel having free edges turned in over those sides of the arms distal from the base to resist movement of the arms away from the base by engagement of the inturned free edges with the arms, and a wireconnecting portion extending from the receptacle portion at the end from which the arms are folded up; the arms being formed from excess metal removed from around the wire-connecting portion.
 2. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which the shape of the inner marginal edges of the arms is complementary to the blank shape of the wire-connecting portion.
 3. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which the arms extend throughout the length of the channel sides and are formed at their free ends with ears projecting generally towards each other and turned up away from the base at the forward edges to facilitate entry of a tab between the arms and the base.
 4. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 3, in whIch the arms, along their length, are inclined towards each other and towards the channel base. 